TIMERGARA: Jamaat-i-Islami emir and Senator Sirajul Haq on Thursday said the PTI government had caused an economic mess by imposing Rs5.5 trillion new taxes.

He was addressing a function organised by the Timergara Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Thursday.

The JI chief said Prime Minister Imran Khan had focused its attention on the victimisation of political opponents instead of steering the country out of crises.

He said heavy taxes had stalled business activity in the country.

“The government has shifted the burden of debts to poor people and working class,” he said. Mr Siraj said the government’s flawed policies had pushed traders to the wall, while investors were shifting their capital abroad.

He said no measures were there to check price hike and develop the people.

The JI leader said the Indian government had turned the entire occupied Kashmir into a prison by violating basic human rights.

He said the day was not far when Kashmir would become part of Pakistan.

Also in the day, the JI chief inaugurated the renovated Timergara bus stand.

FESTIVAL:The Independence Day Sports Festival ended in Sheenghar area here on Wednesday.

Balambat tehsil nazim Imranuddin, who was the chief guest at the event, distributed shields, trophies and prizes to top players and teams.

The contests of basketball, tug-of-war, musical chair and traditional games and a quiz competition were held.

Hundreds of people from different parts of Malakand attended the festival.

Nazim Imranuddin demanded of the government to blacktop the Sheenghar road to promote tourism.

He said the area had great tourism potential but unfortunately, it hadn’t been developed by the successive governments.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2019